20-01-2003 11:18									#1
	50-year old professor sues 'American Idol' Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Florida man sues 'American Idol' College professor, 50, alleges age discrimination Sunday, January 19, 2003 Posted: 11:04 PM EST (0404 GMT) MIAMI BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- They're twentysomethings looking to become a star. But what's wrong with a fiftysomething seeking stardom? A 50-year-old college professor is suing producers of the TV show "American Idol" and the Fox Network, alleging age discrimination after he says he was denied the chance to audition to compete on the show. Drew Cummings, a professor of film and television at Miami-Dade Community College's School of Entertainment Technologies, filed the suit based on federal and state laws barring age discrimination. He said he attended the open audition in Miami Beach in November, waited in line several hours, and was ultimately turned away and told he was too old to be considered for the show. "I find it hard to believe that age plays a part in determining the next 'American Idol,'" Cummings said in a news release. "According to record industry statistics, 55 percent of all record sales and 65 percent of all concert tour revenues were dominated by artists over the age of 40." According to eligibility rules for the program, people must be between 16 and 24 to audition. The rules also say producers may disqualify anyone from the auditions for any reason. Representatives of Fox and FremantleMedia, which produces the program, could not be reached for comment Sunday night. News of Cummings' lawsuit came two days before the premiere of the second season of "American Idol." Cummings said he is filing the suit to fight what he called "rampant" age discrimination in the entertainment industry and corporate America. "If by filing these charges I become the poster child for baby boomers' and age discrimination rights, that's fine with me," he said. His lawyer, Frederick Kramer, said he is also considering legal action against the Federal Communications Commission. "Mr. Cummings was summarily denied the right to compete, and he was discriminated against solely because of his age, not his ability as a singer," Kramer said. In addition to teaching at the college, Cummings is president of the Alternative Entertainment Network, which produces original streaming video content. He has been a producer, writer and director of TV programs including "Bill Nye the Science Guy," "Entertainment Tonight" and "That's Incredible." More than 10,000 people nationwide vied last year for a chance to compete on "Idol," a judged singing competition that pared down contestants each week. Viewers watched as the singers were eliminated; judges picked a winner from the remaining three singers in the season finale.

So is this age discrimination, or does Fox have the right to set its own rules in the American Idol competition? Since I detest this whole genre called Reality TV, I find this whole episode rather amusing.

Discuss.

	20-01-2003 11:20									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

They have a right to set whatever age limits they want, duhhhhh. Stupid lawsuit.

	20-01-2003 11:27									#3
	Support Apolyton

Absolutely moronic. If they put a 50 year old on the show, I'll sue American Idol, because any female on that show should be young and hot, and putting a 50 year old on there clearly violates my rights

	20-01-2003 12:03									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Aye, he probably wanted to fiddle with the young girls....

	20-01-2003 12:26									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

who doesn't?

It depends if they had the rules of the contest written down somewhere. If there were no rules for the contest he may have a case.

	20-01-2003 12:30									#6
	Remove this text

I think having a 50 year old professor for an American Idol might just be cool enough of a concept to convince me to tune in.

	20-01-2003 16:12									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

If they didn't put an age limit on, we would get millions of wrinkly, saggy old men and women cavorting around a stage!

And lord knows there are enough...

	20-01-2003 16:34									#8
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Dissident It depends if they had the rules of the contest written down somewhere. If there were no rules for the contest he may have a case.

"According to eligibility rules for the program, people must be between 16 and 24 to audition. The rules also say producers may disqualify anyone from the auditions for any reason."

Nope, he doesn't have a case. This is why you should ALWAYS read the fine print of ANY legal document. What a dumbass.

And for a college (well, COMMUNITY college) professor, you'd think he'd realize teaching is a better, more worthwhile, more stable and dependable career choice than "American Idol" can provide. Again I say...what a dumbass.

	20-01-2003 18:16									#9
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by DRoseDARs And for a college (well, COMMUNITY college) professor,

Elitism is very unbecoming.

	20-01-2003 18:18									#10
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

indeed, without community colleges a lot of under privlidged people wouldnt have an opportunity for higher education.

	20-01-2003 18:21									#11
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

community colledges are higher education?

	20-01-2003 18:56									#13
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

hey, sorry that not all of us old-worlder know how your glorious education system works. I was under the impression that community colleges don't give BAs.

	20-01-2003 19:01									#14
	Full PM-box? Change here!

but they do provide general college education for at least 1/5 the cost it takes at a normal university. these courses then can be transfered to state colleges and universities that offer BAs and BSs.

In states like california its actually easier to go to community college and transfer to a university than it is to apply directly from high school.

	20-01-2003 19:16									#15
	Put an end to popups!

But they don't give a real degree, right?

	20-01-2003 19:26									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

define "real"

	20-01-2003 19:30									#17
	Support Apolyton

Damn, here I was hoping he was suing American Idol for being a soul-devouring, weeping, festering boil on the ass of American culture.

	20-01-2003 19:34									#18
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

an academic degree.

	20-01-2003 19:42									#19
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

they do...AA and AS...or is that not what your highness was looking for.

	20-01-2003 19:55									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by MRT144 they do...AA and AS...or is that not what your highness was looking for.

	20-01-2003 20:22									#21
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by DRoseDARs "According to eligibility rules for the program, people must be between 16 and 24 to audition. The rules also say producers may disqualify anyone from the auditions for any reason." Nope, he doesn't have a case. This is why you should ALWAYS read the fine print of ANY legal document. What a dumbass.

Sorry, an employer cannot write its own rules permitting it to ignore the law.

The real questions here are: (a) is American Idol acting as an employer so that it must obey the employment laws against age discrimination; and ( b) if so, is there a legitimate business reason for the apparent discrimination? [E.g., your making a movie about Mozart as a child. A 50-year-old man playing Mozart is not going to be convincing.]

	20-01-2003 20:28									#22
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I hate pop culture with such a passion, and all it seemingly physical incarnation of "american idol" I hope this guy wins, and drags their name through the mud

	20-01-2003 20:59									#23
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by MRT144 but they do provide general college education for at least 1/5 the cost it takes at a normal university. these courses then can be transfered to state colleges and universities that offer BAs and BSs. In states like california its actually easier to go to community college and transfer to a university than it is to apply directly from high school.

isnt that the whole point of community college everywhere? cheaper tuition for 1/2 of your college years and to be admitted to university easier?

its like that too in NY

quote: hate pop culture with such a passion, and all it seemingly physical incarnation of "american idol" I hope this guy wins, and drags their name through the mud

Such unnecessary hate.. do you hate things you used to like once it goes 'pop'?

	20-01-2003 21:03									#24
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by Boris Gudunov Elitism is very unbecoming.

Pot, kettle and all that jazz...

	20-01-2003 21:06									#25
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Drake Tungsten quote: Originally posted by Boris Gudunov Elitism is very unbecoming. Pot, kettle and all that jazz...

Name one elitist position I've taken.

	20-01-2003 21:10									#26
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Zkribbler ( b) if so, is there a legitimate business reason for the apparent discrimination? [E.g., your making a movie about Mozart as a child. A 50-year-old man playing Mozart is not going to be convincing.]

I should think that the very idea of creating an "American Idol" is to have someone young. Even if it's not written in some dictionary, one of the basic assumptions of having a pop idol is that they aren't 50 years old.

	20-01-2003 21:10									#27
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Name one elitist position I've taken.

I distinctly remember you saying that I didn't know what a sonata is...

	20-01-2003 21:14									#28
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

Reminds me of this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1978838.stm

quote: Pop Idol runner-up Rik Waller has said he might enter the US version of the TV talent show. The imposing singer said he wanted to confront judge Simon Cowell, who told him he was "too fat to be an Idol".

	20-01-2003 21:21									#29
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Kontiki, I think you're right. I'm trying to think of all the top hits made by singers over 50 ever since the rise of Little Richard, Elvis and rock & roll. There was Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World, Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is?, Frank Sinatra's I Did It My Way and I'm sure a few more. But all of these songs were by established singers, making a come-back or at least renewing their popularity with their fans. I can't think of a single one made by a newly discovered 50+-year-old. The idea of American Idol is to find a new American Idol (duh), and this guy has no change.

	20-01-2003 21:24									#30
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by Drake Tungsten quote: Name one elitist position I've taken. I distinctly remember you saying that I didn't know what a sonata is...

Not in any seriousness, as the context makes obvious. Besides, technically that isn't elitism.